Edwinia B. F. Tobias

EDWINIA LECOMPTE TOBIAS was born to Cordelia (nee Baer)and Thomas LeCompte on March 29, 1922 in Baltimore, Maryland. She was the youngest of 10 sisters and brothers who have preceded her in death.

Edwinia's marriage to Jeff Royster produced one son, Thomas Royster, Sr. Then she met and married Joseph Tobias. From that union came Karen, Mary, Wanda, Pauline and Angela. Joseph 'Sonny' Tobias, preceded her in death on April 3, 2003.

Edwinia was a graduate of Saint Frances of Rome Academy and upon graduation began attending nursing school. She found her calling with the Baltimore City Health Department's Eastern Health District. After 30 years of dedicated service, she retired only to volunteer as a health aid with several Catholic Schools. She did this until her last school, Saint Katherine of Sienna, closed. Edwinia was very active, until she became sick and not able to move around, with the Lady's Sodality of Saint Francis and the Oblate Sisters of Providence.

Edwinia was active in every school her children attended. She became 'mother' to various children groups. Her volunteering with children's group led to many children calling her mom or grandma.

Edwinia 'Winnie' started her next journey on May 6, 2015.

Leaving to remember and continue on are her 4 daughters; Karen (William), Mary, Wanda, Pauline and Angela; 3 sons, Thomas (Mary), Leslie (Darlene), and Marvin (Diane). Edwinia has 13 grandchildren, Camara and Tammia Royster, Melissa Royster Neverls (Currie), Thomas Royster, Jr., Stephanye and Thomas Pitts, Aaron, Joshua and Nia Jones, Priscilla Garrett, Maria Dorsey and Michael and Marcus Lowery; great-great-grandchildren, beloved friends, Mable Smith, Bernard Ralph, Sr. and Deacon Russell Mathews; and a host of friends and people who knew her as 'Momma' and 'Grandma'.